Automatic filler



March 13, 1951 T. A. ST. CLAIR 2,544,734

AUTOMATIC FILLER Filed July 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

- T. A. ST.CLAIR ATTORNEYS March 13, 1951 'r. A. ST. CLAIR AUTOMATIC FILLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1947 INVENTOR. T.A. ST. CLAIR Patented Mar. 13, 1951 AUTOMATIC FILLER Theodore A. St. Clair, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 14,1947, Serial No.- 760,834

(01. Mil-=63) 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device for automatically filling a cylinder with a predetermined weight of liquid, such as liquid petroleum gas. In one specific aspect it relates to such a device which will automatically shut off the liquid and disconnect itself from the cylinder when the predetermined weight has been loaded in the cylinder.

One difiiculty in the prior art has been that in the case of failure of the pressure of the air used in operating the automatic device, the liquid being loaded has been spilled on thefloor, which in the case of liquid petroleum gas is a dangerous fire hazard. The automatic devices of the prior art are not sufiiciently positive in operation which often results in inaccurate loading of the cylinders, premature disconnection, and fire hazards created by improper operation of their devices.

One object of this invention is to provide an automatic cylinder filler having a positive operating cut-off system so that in case of failure of I the pressure of the air used for automatic operation at any stage of the filling, the liquid filling valves are automatically closed in such a way that there is no possibility of loss of the liquid.

Another object is to provide an automatic cylindelfiller which will fill a cylinder and disconnect therefrom without any hesitation,- in accuracy, or fire hazards.

Other objects are to provide novel subcombinations, such as a novel diaphragm operated connector and disconnectors, and as another ex ample, a novel weight operated control valve subcombination. v

A further object is to provide a system for filling cylinders with fluids to a predetermined weight.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the accompanying specification, claims and drawings:

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view with some parts broken away or in cross section of an automatic cylinder filling system embodying the present invention.

Figure 2- is an enlarged View of a portion of a system shown in Figure 1 with parts shown in cross section, the parts being disposed in aslightly different position in order to make the drawing clear.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the top of the cylinder showing the manner in which the cylinder filling connection engages the cylinder.

In Figure 1, the purpose of the automatic cyl-- inder filler system illustrated therein is to fill the usual cylindrical container 3 with a predeter= mined desired weight of a fluid (which may be liquid or gas, but in the case of liquid petroleum gas such as propane or butane, or mixtures of propane and butane or the like, is preferably liquid) such as liquid 4 contained in a suitable storage tank 5. While it is entirely within the scope of the present invention to fill a cylinder 3 with liquid 4 by utilizing the force of gravity and/ or the vapor pressure of gas in space 6 from the liquid, which method may be practiced merely by failing to rotate centrifugal pump 1 and allow liquid 4 to find its way through the pump, such a method of loading cylinder 3 is generally too slow, so pump 1 is provided to speed up the proc-'- ess.

Pump l may be driven by any prime mover such as electric motor 8 connected thereto by shaft H] which is shown provided with wire 9, switch I! and battery 12. Obviously any other means of turning pump 1 isentire'ly equivalent.

In order to convey liquid 4 over to cylinder 3', a liquid loading line I3 is provided communicating with the bottom of tank 5, and connected to" the inlet and outlet of pump 1; Line I3 is provided with a flexible portion [4 inorder to allow relative movement of parts as will be discussed later. Line l3 has a branch [6 leading back to the top of tank 5 and disposed in branch I6 is an excess flow valve I! which valve allows vapors to pass freely therethrough in the direction indicated by the arrow head, but which valve will close pipe I6 as soon as liquid attempts to pass therethrough. Obviously some means for filling tank 5 should be provided either as a separate line (not shown) or as a branch line I8 connected to is as shown and provided with a cut-off valve l9. Liquid can be added through line I8.

It should be understood that tank 5 may be provided with all the usual safety features and other appurtenances common to suchtanks, such as safety valves, liquid level indicators, fusible plugs, and/or the other tank devices known to the prior art. Suitable excess flow valves may be provided for each outlet of the tank except the safety valve outlet, provided such excess flow valves are properly designed so that they will not interfere with the flow of liquid or gas in the direction indicated and the suitable rates of flow (such excess flow valve on the tank outlet of tank 5 not being shown).

If it is desiredto create additional vapor pressure in space 6',- hot water may be run through pipe 2|. In order to control the amount of hot water, a control valve 22 may be provided which control valve may be operated as a motor valve having diaphragm case 23. As is usual with such motor valves, a spring tends to raise the diaphragm and to open valve 22 Whereas the vapor pressure of a volatile liquid or gaseous fluid in bulb 24 is transmitted through pipe 26 to the space above the diaphragm in case 23 where it tends to force the diaphragm down and force valve 22 closed as the temperature in bulb 24 increases.

In the case of very volatile liquids being used as liquid 4, it is possible to run very cold liquid through pipe 22 in which case valve 22 is constructed so that an increase in temperature at 24 will open the valve 22. Such a system is valuable in loading very volatile materials into cylinders, but is not the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Cylinder 3 rests on moving platform 21 of the standard type of platform scales 28 in order that the weight of liquid in cylinder 3 may be weighed. Scales 28 are provided with the usual upstanding housing 29, and as platform 21 moves downward under the weight of 3, rod 3| is also pulled downward moving scale beam 32 in the usual manner. Weights 33 are provided to counterweigh the weight of platform 21, cylinder 3 and other mechanical devices supported on platform 21, plus the weight of liquid to be loaded into cylinder 3, and in making the final adjustment of weight the usual sliding weight 34 may also be employed. Due to well understood principles of leverage, weights 33 and 34 and of course the weight of arm 32 need not be anywhere near as great as the weight of platform 21 and supported portion.

A guide arm 36 may be supported on the top of 29 having a guide loop 31 which restricts any excessive swinging of the arm 32, and mounted on the top of guide arm 36 is a cut-off valve assembly 38 which will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2. Obviously parts 36 and 31 can be eliminated and valve assembly 38 secured to the top of 29.

Mounted on platform 21 is a cylinder filling head support 39' which may be of any desired shape, the preferred shape being shown. Preferably secured to 39 is an arcuate bracket 4| which serves to automatically center cylinder 3 in proper position as the cylinder is shoved against it. Pivotally mounted by pivot 42 on the to of support 39 is a cylinder filler head assembly 43 which will be described more fully with reference to Figure 2. Looking at Figures 1 and 2 bracket 44 secured to support 39 guides rod 46 secured to head 43 and bracket 44 and adjustable nut 41 on rod 46 confines a compression spring 48 which spring is around rod 46, so that spring 48 opposes and limits counte clockwise rotation of head 43 about pivot 42, which rotation is due to head 43 having its center of gravity to the left of pivot hole I04. The torque exerted by gravity due to the offset hole is greater than that exerted by the spring 48 except when said spring is fully compressed.

Head 43 contains a diaphragm 94 which is actuated by air under pressure coming from a source (not shown) through supply pipe 52 containing shut-off valve 53 and a regulating valve 54 which provides a constant pressure in conduit 52 on the down stream side of valve 54. Conduit 52 separates into two branches 56 and 51 which communicate with housing 38 as shown and under proper circumstances (as will be explained later) air from 52 passes into conduit 58 which has branches 59 and 6|. containing flexible portions 62 and 63 respectively which allow free pivoting of head 43 around pivot 42.

Conduit 59 contains a special valve 84 which will be described further with reference to Figure 2.

Figure 2 best discloses the actual operation of the invention because it shows the interior of valve housing 38 and the interior of head 43. In order to make the function of head 43 more ob vious in Figure 1, it is shown with a conventional diaphragm housing shape, whereas in Figure 2 it is shown with the actual shape found most desirable from an engineering standpoint. It will be noted that many of the parts appearing in Figure 1 also appear in Figure 2 but are not discussed further as further discussion of such parts as flexible pipes 62 and 63 seems unnecessary.

In Figure 2 the upper moving parts of scales 28 are shown, support '66 being secured to member 29 and providing a fulcrum for bosses 61 pro- J'ecting from the sides of beam 32. Rod 3| also ends in a bifurcated eye member 68 which cooperates similarly with bosses 69 on arm 32. Arm 32 is provided with a threaded nut 1| on which a counterbalanced weight 12 is threaded. All of this structure related to arm 32 is old in any platform scale and counterweight 12 is merely a calibration weight which makes the scale read in actual pounds or fractions of a pound.

Housing 38 which is mounted above arm 32 has guided thereon a rod 13 which is shown contacting the calibration weight 12, but which could contact any portion of arm 32 spaced about the same distance to the left of fulcrum bosses 61 with the same results.

Housing 38 is preferably made into two parts, 14 and 15, which provide a diaphragm chamber 16 in which is mounted a flexible diaphragm 11. Housing 16 is vented to the atmosphere on one side of the diaphragm 11 by openings 18. Housing 14 has a valve chamber 19 thereon in which is a movable valve head 8| which may be provided with rubber valve seat inserts at each end as shown (no reference numerals). When in the position shown, head 8| is closing passage 82, which passage also serves to guide a head 83 which may also be secured to diaphragm 11 by suitable cement. I-Iead 8| is also designed so that it may move to close passage 64 in communication with pipe 56. In housing 15 is a passage 81 leading to a chamber 88 containing a movable valve head 89. Valve head 89 may be provided with rubber inserts at each end (no eference numerals) to increase its sealing power and in the position shown when supported by rod 13, head 89 is closing passage 9| in communica tion with pipe 51, while rod 13 is holding it off its seat and maintaining passage 92 open to the atmosphere. It will be seen that there is room around rod 13 for gas to pass through passage 92. In another position valve head 89 will close passage 92 but it will be noted that there is room around head 39 in chamber 88 for gas to pass from pipe 51 through passage 9|, chamber and passage 81 into chamber 16.

Pipe 53 communicates with a chamber 33 in head 43 above a flexible diaphragm 94. Diaphragm 94 is normally urged upward into the dotted line position 96 by spring 91 acting on follower 38 as gas can leak out of chamber 93' through passage 99 around bolts |li| to the atmosphere. Bolts |0| obviously secure the bottom I02 of housing 43 to the top I93 and secure diaphragm 94 in between I02 and IE3. It should be noted that bottom I02 is provided with a hole I04 which receives pivot 42 of Figure l in order to allow rotation about that pivot and rod 46 is secured to I02 by a pivot I09 in a countersunk portion I07.

Secured to follower 93 is an operating rod !08 which has an enlarged head I99 extending down into chamber III of connector body 49. Connector body 49 is provided with a shoulder I|2 for engaging head I09 whenever the head I09 passes upwardly in chamber III at an angle to the vertical, which tilting is allowed by rubber ring 3 preferably secured in place by split ring I I4 received in a groove in body 49.

The lower part of body 49 is provided with a chamber III; which is in communication with pipe I4. Secured to body 49 is a nozzle 2| '5 which has an enlarged head IE3. Slidably mounted on II'I above 8 is a washer H9 which is pressed against head IIB by a spring |2|. Nozzle Ill contains a passage I 22 and guided in said passage but not filling the same is a valve 23 having an annular groove in which is supported a rubber sealing ring I24. Sealing ring I24 in the position shown seals passage I22, but when valve head I23 is pushed upward by contact at I26 liquid from I4 can flow through passage I22 into the top 55 of cylinder 3.

It will be noted that conduits 6| and 62 are in communication with space 93 but that a valve seat I2'| is provided around opening I28 which is in communication with pipe 9|. When diaphragm 94 is in the dotted line position 93 opening I28 is sealed thereby by contact with seat I21.

In Figure 3, cylinder 3 is shown in cross section, its top provided with an ordinary tire core valve I29 which has a rod I3I connected to its valve head in the usual manner of such valves. When body 49 is moved downwardly so that head 8 enters the top of top 5| it will be noted that washer |I9 compresses spring I2I and head H8 seals against the top 5|. A rubber gasket may be provided to seal against head H8 but due to the small scale of the drawing no attempt has been made to show such a rubber gasket, however such devices are common. In order to make the drawing clearer in Figure 3, the tip I29 of head I23 has been exaggerated in size. What happens is that rod I3I on the valve head of the tire valve I29 pushes valve head I23 open and at the same time is pushed open by the weight of I23 plus the pressure of liquid in pipe 14,

Valve 64 consists of a valve head I 32 and a valve seat I33. The valve head is pressed against the seat by spring I34 and the pressure of air in pipe 59, but may be unseated when desired by manually pressing button I36.

Operation The operator first places an empty cylinder 3 on platform 21 and balances the same by adding suitable weights 33 and moving slider 34. As all cylinders 3 weigh substantially the same this operation need only be performed once, for all cylinders are the same size. In the event that different cylinders 3 of the same minimum and maximum volumes are fabricated in such a manner that the weight varies by a greater amount than the desired variation in the weight of contained liquid gas, then obviously each cylinder 3 should be weighed separately before adding the weights which will counterbalance the desired weight of fluid to be placed in cylinder 3. This is regarded as obvious, and obviously this weighing of the individual cylinders may be done immediately before filling each cylinder, or cylinders 3 may be weighed ahead of time and the tare weight of each chalked on the side thereof; in the latter case suitable adjustments of weights 33' and slider 34 may be made with reference to the tare weight recorded for the cylinder. Any obvious means for identifying the particular cylinder and recording its individual weight may be employed. The operator then adds to the weights at 33 a weight which will counterbalance the desired weight of fluid to be placed in container 3 in the filling operation.

The operator then starts turning pump I by motor 8, if it is desired to use the pump, and this is done in the illustrated embodiment shown in the drawing by closing switch II. Switch II and motor 8 should be explosive proof if liquid petroleum gas is being employed or shaft I0 connecting same may pass through a gas tight wall. If desired, heat exchange fluid is circulated through pipe 2| as controlled by temperature of bulb 24.

When pump I starts there may be vapor in pipe I3, but this vapor passes through line I5 and excess flow valve I! to vapor space 5. When liquid comes through pipe I6 it closes excess flow valve I? so that liquid can not pass back into tank 5. In some instances tank 5 could be entirely filled with pure gas and cylinder 3 could be filled with gas therefrom but such is not the preferred embodiment of the invention, as in that instance valve II cannot be an excess flow valve, but must be replaced by a closed shut-off valve (not shown).

Liquid flowing through line I3 urged by pump and/or by gravity and/or vapor pressure in space 6 proceeds through pipe I3 and pipe I4 into chamber H5 closing valve head |23 so that passage through space i22 is prevented. Spring 48 is compressed and head 43 has tilted counterclockwise about pivot 42 by gravity considerably out of the position shown in Figure 1 so that 49 t is back under 39 out of the way of 5| when cylinder 3 is placed on the platform 21.

The operator picks up a cylinder 3 and throws it on to platform 21, pushing it against guide 4| which automatically centers it for connection of parts 49 and 5|. Part 49 is tilted upwardly to the right out of the way of part '5I, and because head I99 has recently been pulled out by spring 9! from under shoulder II 2 when the top of sleeve 49 contacted and straightened out against the bottom of housing 592, parts I08 and 49 are held telescoped because of friction of ring I I3 on rod I08. Spring 9'! has pushed diaphragm 94 up into the dotted line position 93 so that diaphragm 94 seals against seat I21 and prevents air from entering space 93 through pipe 6|. Spring I34 holds valve 64 closed so no air is entering space 93 and the pressure in space 93 has fallen to atmospheric pressure due to leakage of air through hole 99.

Valve 53 is open and air under pressure from pipe 52 has filled pipe '52 on the down stream side of pressure regulator 54 to a constant pressure. As shown in Figure 2, weight 33, having overbalanced cylinder 3, has moved arm 32 clockwise about point 51 so that 12 has engaged rod l3 and pushed valve head 89 into the position shown, which opens passage 8'! to the atmosphere but closes passage 9| so that air under pressure passes through pipe 56, chamber 19 and pipe'58 to pipes BI and 59 pushing valve 8| to close 82 (with the aid of the spring aroundvalve'fll' in chamber I9 when such a spring is used) as rod' 83 is powerless to resist because diaphragm I? is exposed to atmospheric pressure on both sides (through openings I8 and 87, 92). The air goes through pipe cl but is stopped in passage I28 by diaphragm 9A and the air passing from pipe 58 to pipe 59 is stopped by valve 64.

The operator grasps body t9 and moves it, swinging head 43 clockwise into the position in Figure 1. The operator lowers head 49 into the top of 5I of cylinder 3, and releases the same. Gravity holds 59 and EI and 69 being in SI prevents rotation of head 43. The operation of parts 49, I09 and spring 48 is about the same as corresponding parts 21, 22a and 134 of T. A. St. Clair et 9.1., 2,406,263, of August 20, 1946, class 226, subclass 20.6. At this time the operator pushes button I35 momentarily which allows sufficient air to pass through pipe 62 into chamber 83 to compress spring 9? enough to allow air to come in opening I28. Once 93 is clear of I28 the operator can release button I36 because air will continue to pour in through passage I23 and this air is under sufiicient pressure to compress spring 91 and move the diaphragm into the position shown Figure 2. At the same time the engagement of parts as and BI is moved into the position shown in Figure 3. While air leaks out to the atmosphere through the small hole 9%, sufiicient air is coming in through opening I28 to replace it. In many instances it is possible to eliminatehole 99 because the only function of hole 93 is to keep pressure in space 93 from building up when valves 66 and st, I28 are closed but are leaking a little. In any instance hole 9% may be much smaller than shown in the drawings, depending on the maximum leakage assumed. Gravity is powerless to rotate head 43 because of the engagement of head I It in the top "5| of cylinder 3.

As head [It took its seat in top 5!, valve head I26 engaged valve I of valve I29 opening valve I22 and placing conduit Ill into communication with cylinder 3. Pump 1 then pumps liquid through pipes I3 and I l into cylinder 3 until the weight of the cylinder is increased enough to overbalance weight 33.

When the weight of cylinder 3 is great enough, arm 32 rotates counterclockwise as platform 2I and rod 3i go downward. This moves l2 downward and allows rod is to fall enough so that valve head 39 seats and closes passage 92.

When passage 92 is closed passage 9i becomes open and air under pressure from line 52 goes through pipe 5?, passage BI, and passage Ei'I into chamber It moving diaphragm It to the right and moving rod its to force valve head 8i to seat and close passage as and to open passage 82 to the atmosphere through passages 78.

Closing passage 84 means that no more air under pressure is supplied to chamber $3 and the air in chamber at not only leaks out through hole 99 (if the device has a hole 99, as hole Q9 may be eliminated), but also flows rapidly back through passage I23, pipe 6i, pipe 58, passage chamber 39, and passage 32 out holes I8 to the atmosphere, so that soon spring 9? is exerting a greater upward force on diaphragm 9 than the downward force exerted thereon by the air in chamber 93, so diaphragm 94 and shoulder 98 move up into dotted line position 98 closing opening I28.

Because of the counterclockwise torque exerted by gravity around pivot hole Hi4 as explained above, head Hi9 catches under shoulder I I2 and 013-,- viously as soon as H8 is clear of 5I head 43 will rapidly disengages head H3 from top 5|.

tilt counterclockwise so that connector 49 will be moved back under arm 39 out of the way of cylinder 3. Spring 48 will absorb the shock of this tilting. Liquid under pressure in chamber I I6 will instantly close valve head I23 and I24 closing passage I22 so that substantially no liquid escontacts the bottom of housing Hi2, it is straight cried out, thereby pulling head I09 out .from under shoulder IIIZ, and ring H3 centers head m9 allowing head ms to move up in bore III.

The sleeve dc remains in contact with housin 162 due to frictional engagement with rodiiia' through iriction washer I I3.

The tilting of head 43 acts as a signal to indicate to the operator that cylinder 3 is full,

Such a signal may be necessary if 20 or more scales of the type of scale 28 are being employed.

When such a large number of scales are employed only one tank 5 or one air pressure pipe 52 is needed as pipes I3 and 52 can be made into mani-i folds with a connection for each scale 28.

The operator seeing head 43 tilted comes up and drags cylinder 3 oii of platform 21. Weight 33 then overbalances platform 21 and arm 32 rotates clockwise into the position shown in Figure 2 causing rod I3 to move head 89 into the po sition shown closing passage 9I and opening passage 52.

The air in space I6 then leaks out to atmosphere through spaces 81, 88 and 92.

against head 8I and forces it to the position shown, in turn forcing rod 83 and diaphragm 1.! into the position shown. Then the air in pipe 56 passes through spaces 84, it, and 86 into pipe $3, and the air pressure in space 93 is substantially atmospheric even if valve M or passage I2 8;

leak a little because of hole 99 which leads to the atmosphere. If hole 99 is eliminated these valves must not leak.

This completes the cycle. The operator places another cylinder 3 on platform 27 and repeats the operations except that he does not have to set weights 33 if the new cylinder 3 weighs substantially the same as any other cylinder of its same size. If the tare weight of the individual cylinders 3 varies by an amount greater thanthe desired variation in the net weight of the liquid contents, then obviously each individual cylinder should be weighed and then additional weight equal to the desired net weight of the fluid contents should be added to counterbalance said'fluid contents, all as described above. V

In the actual apparatus employed, support-3 9 may be made adjustable in height so that cylinders having difierent heights may be used at different times, but as this feature does not appeal: patentable over the present invention it has not been illustrated.

While I have shown in the drawings, several particular illustrative forms of my invention, var' ious modifications may be made in the same and in the Various features of construction, Without Air under pressure in pipe 56 emerges through opening 84.

materially changing the invention therein, and formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling containers with a predetermined weight of a fluid, comprising in combination container weighing means, a fluid dispensing line for filling said containers with said fluid, means for positioning one of said containers so that it is weighed by the container weighing means and is aligned for connection to said fluid dispensing line, connecting means for connecting said line to said container, disconnecting means urging said connecting means away from and out of connection with said container, power operated means for overcoming said disconnecting means and for connecting said fluid line and said container by said connecting means, a pressure fluid supply line disposed and connected to supply fluid under pressure through a first and second conduit to actuate said power operated means, valve means closing said first conduit whenever said power operated means is fully retracted by said disconnecting means, manual valve means controlling fluid flow in said second conduit, and valve means controlled by said container weighing means cutting ofi said pressure fluid supply line and venting said first conduit to the atmosphere when said container contains said predetermined weight of fluid comprising a first three way valve having said ways connected to said first conduit, said pressure fluid supply line and the atmosphere respectively, and having a first valve head biased to close said way to the atmosphere, and pressure fluid operated means to urge said first valve head to open said way to the atmosphere and close said pressure fluid supply line to said way to said first conduit and a second three way valve having said ways connected to said pressure fluid operated means, said pressure fluid supply line and the atmosphere respectively, and a second valve head. movable by said container weighing means to urge said second valve head to close only said way in said second three way valve to said fluid supply line when said container has insufficient weight, said second valve head moving to close only said way in said second three way valve to the atmosphere when said container contains said predetermined weight of fluid.

2. Apparatus for filling containers with a predetermined weight of a fluid, comprising in combination container weighing means, a fluid dispensing line for fil ing said containers with said fluid, means for positioning one of said containers so that it is weighted by the container weighing means and is aligned for connection to said fluid dispensing line, connecting means for connecting said line to said container, disconnecting means urging said connecting means away from and out of connection with said container, power operated means for overcoming said disconnecting means and for connecting said fluid line and said container by said connecting means, a pressure fluid supply line disposed and connected to supply fluid under pressure through a first and second conduit to actuate said power operated means, valve means closing said first conduit whenever said power operated means is fully retracted by said disconnecting means, manual valve means controlling fluid flow in said second conduit, and valve means controlled by said 10 container weighing means cutting ofl said pressure fluid supply line and venting said first conduit to the atmosphere when said container contains said predetermined weight of fluid comprising a three way valve having said ways connected to said first conduit, said pressure fluid supply line and the atmosphere respectively, and having a valve head biased to close said way to the atmosphere, and pressure fluid operated means to urge said valve head to open said way to the atmosphere and close said pressure fluid supply line to said way to said first conduit.

3. Apparatus for filling containers with a predetermined weight of a fluid, comprising in combination container weighing means, a fluid dispensing line for filling said containers with said fluid, means for positioning one of said containers so that it isweighed by the container weighing means and is aligned for connection to said fluid dispensing line, connecting means for connecting said line to said container, disconnecting means urging said connecting means away from and out of connection with said container, power operated means for overcoming said disconnecting means and for connecting said fluid line and said container by said connecting means, a pressure fluid supply line disposed and connected to supply fluid under pressure through a first and second conduit to actuate said power operated means, valve means closing said first conduit whenever said power operated means is fully retracted by said disconnecting means, manual valve means controlling fluid flow in said second conduit, and valve means controlled by said container weighing means cutting off said pressure fluid supply line and venting said first conduit to the atmosphere when said container contains said predetermined weight of fluid.

4. A control valve for supplying pressure fluid from a pressure supply line to a first conduit in one position, and connecting said first conduit to the atmosphere in another position comprising a first three way valve having said ways connected to said first conduit, said pressure fluid supply line and the atmosphere respectively, and having a first valve head biased to close said way to the atmosphere, and pressure fluid operated means to urge said first valve head to open said way to the atmosphere and close said pressure fluid supply line to said way to said first conduit and a second three way valve having said ways connected to said pressure fluid operated means, said pressure fluid supply line and the atmosphere respectively, and valve operating means movable to urge said second valve head to close only said way in said second three way valve to said fluid supply line, said second valve head being biased to close only said way in said second three wayvalve to the atmosphere.

5. A motor comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first zone and a second zone, a first fluid supply line communicating with said first zone through a hollow boss in said housing disposed to be closed by said diaphragm in a first position, a second fluid supply line communicating with said first zone, a manual valve controlling flow in said second fluid supply line, a conduit connecting said first zone to the atmosphere of sufficient size to conduct any fluid leaking between said boss and. said diaphragm in said first position and through said manual valve, an arm extending into said second zone and disposed to be engaged by said diaphragm and a spring in said second zone urging said arm and said diaphragm into said first position and adapted to be compressed by pressure fiuid in said first zone when said fluid is admitted through said manual valve.

6. A motor comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first zone and a second zone, a first fluid supply line communicating with said first zone through a hollow boss in said housing disposed to be closed by said diaphragm in a first position, a second fluid supply line communica ing with said first zone, a manual valve controlling fiow in said second fluid supply line, an arm extending into said second zone and disposed to be engaged by said diaphragm and a spring in said second zone urging said arm and said diaphragm into said first position and adapted to be compressed by pressure fluid in said first zone when said fluid is admitted through said manual valve.

'7. A motor comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first zone and a second zone, a first fluid supply line communicating with said first zone through a hollow boss in said housing disposed to be closed by said diaphragm in a first position, a second fluid supply line communicating with said first zone, a conduit connecting said first zone to the atmosphere of suificient size to conduct any fluid leaking between said boss and said diaphragm in said first position, an arm extending into said second zone and disposed to be engaged by said diaphragm and a spring in said second zone urging said arm and said diaphragm into said first position and adapted to be com- .pressed by pressure fluid in said first zone when said fluid is admitted.

8. A motor comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first zone and a second zone, a first fluid supply line communicating with said first zone through a hollow boss in said housing disposed to be closed by said diaphragm in a first position, a second fluid supply line communicating with said first Zone, an arm extending into said second zone and disposed to be engaged by said diaphragm and a spring in said second zone urging said arm and said diaphragm into said first position and adapted to be compressed by pressure fluid in said first zone when said fluid. v

is admitted.

9. An expansible chamber motor having a first, inlet closed by a wall of said chamber only when said chamber is collapsed, a source of fluid under a predetermined pressure, a first conduit communicating with said first inlet, said chamber having a second inlet, a second conduit connecting said first conduit and said second inlet, a first valve controlling flow through said second conduit, means biasing said first valve to close said second conduit, means biasing said wall to close said first inlet with sufflcient force to resist said fluid under said pressure in said first inlet but insufiicient to resist the same fiuid when admitted to said chamber through said second conduit, a second valveconnecting said first conduit to said source in one position and to the atmosphere in a second position, a second expansible chamber motor for operating said second valve, a third conduit connected to the chamber of said second motor, and a third valve connecting said third conduit to said source in one position and to the atmosphere in a second position.

10. An expansible chamber motor having a first inlet closed by a wall of said chamber only when said chamber is collapsed, a source of fluid under a predetermined pressure, a first conduit communicating with said first inlet, said chamber having a second inlet, a second conduit connecting said first conduit and said second inlet, a first valve controlling flow through said second conduit, means biasing said first valve to close said second conduit, means biasing said wall to close said first inlet with suflicient force to resist said fluid under said pressure in said first inlet but insufiicient to resist the same fluid when admitted to said chamber through said second conduit and a second valve connecting said first conduit to said source in one position and to the atmosphere in a second position.

11. An expansible chamber motor having a first inlet closed by a wall of said chamber only when said chamber is collapsed, a source of fluid under a predetermined pressure, a first conduit,

communicating with said first inlet, said chamber having a second inlet, a second conduit connecting said first conduit and said second inlet, a first valve controlling flow through said second conduit, means biasing said first valve to close said second conduit, means biasing said wall to close said first inlet with suflicient force to resist said fluid under said pressure in said first inlet but insufiicient to resist the same fluid when admitted to said chamber through said second conduit, and means connecting said first conduit to said source of fluid under pressure.

THEODORE A. ST. CLAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 412,327 Gibson Oct. 8, 1889 1,317,956 Carlstedt Oct. 7, 1919 1,652,710 Dotterweich 1. Dec. 13, 1927 1,897,135 Mason Feb. 14, 1933 2,039,099 Mastenbrook Apr. 28, 1936 2,264,562 Bryant et al. Dec. 2, 1941 2,406,263 St. Clair et al Aug. 20, 1946 2,408,842 Garretson et al Oct. 8, 1946 

